Stomp and three pigs

By Kevin Carr
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post

OPENING THIS WEEK
Tonight at 8 p.m., Chan Park from the OSU Theatre Department will perform “P’ansori,” a presentation of Korean story-singing. Call (614) 292-3222 or visit theatre.osu.edu.
MadLab Theatre opens Theatre Roulette 2005 tonight, May 12. This is a series of new plays performed as part of the Columbus Fringe Festival, a celebration of original, adventurous works by local artists performed in different venues around the city. Theatre Roulette plays Thursdays through Saturdays each week through June 4. Visit www.madlab.net or call (614)470-2333 for more information.
Columbus Children’s Theatre opens its new play “The Three Little Pigs” on Friday, May 13. Recommended for ages 4 and up, this retelling of the classic tale runs through Sunday, May 22. Call (614) 224-6672 or visit www.colschildrenstheatre.org.
The Bread & Circus Theatre opens “Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” on Friday, May 13 and runs through Saturday, May 21. Call (614) 470-4895 for more information.
BalletMet and the OSU Dance Department are presenting “A Russian Revo” ballets, performed by both companies. Call (614) 229-4848 or visit www.balletmet.org for more information.
On Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 15, Snap! Performance Productions will “Turn up the Heat” with two days of song and dance. Performances are at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. both days in the Capitol Theatre in the Riffe Center. Visit http://www.snapperformanceproductions.com for ticket information.
Broadway in Columbus and CAPA are bringing “STOMP” back in town from May 17 through May 22 at the Palace Theatre. Call (614) 469-0939 or visit www.capa.com for more information.

A LOOK INSIDE “STOMP”
Next Tuesday, May 17, “STOMP” will be returning to The Palace Theatre. One of the performers in this eclectic troupe took some time to speak with The Columbus Post about his involvement in “STOMP” and how it reaches such a wide audience.
“It was something that I wanted to do pretty much from the first time I saw it,” says Crawford, a percussionist from Los Angeles. “As long as you have rhythm, you can learn the show in a relatively short time.”
“STOMP” got its starts on the streets with creators Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, who were street performers. “There were a couple days when Luke couldn’t bring his drum set, and he found what he could find,” says Crawford. When this performance of found sounds drew a bigger crowd, Cresswell and McNicholas knew they had something.
“As far as the objects used in the show, and the urban feel to it, it came straight out of them being on the street,” says Crawford. “If they lived out in the country, I’m sure it’d be a very different show.”
Some of the items used in the production to make the unique “STOMP” music include trash cans, plastic bags, Zippo lighters, plungers and hubcaps.
“STOMP” has a wide appeal that can transcend language and cultural barriers. “The rhythm is such a universal language,” explains Crawford. “There’s a very primal, visceral reaction to the show.”
Not only can a diverse audience relate to the music, but also the performers on stage. “We’ve got people from Europe and some from Brazil and from Argentina and Japan,” Crawford explains. “Inevitably, there’s at least one person out of eight that people in the audience can look up there and say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s me up there.’”